Group B strep

[DirtyHippie]

I am pregnant with my third child. I had my son in a free standing birth center and decided to have the antibiotics for being GBS+. I am having a homebirth this time and am considering all of my other options. I would really prefer not to go the antibiotic route this time. The IV was a pain really and is an intervetnion i would rather not have. I am going to try everything I can so I don't test positive. If I do beyond using VERY minimal invasive procedures (whjich would be in a homebirth anyway) what have all of you done in alternative to using antibiotics? And what were the outcomes?

[Erin Pavlina]

I tested positive for Group B Strep with my pregnancy. I researched the heck out of it for months. There are really only three dangers and I decided that if I presented with the three dangers I would take antibiotics and if I didn't, I wouldn't.

The indicators are:

1. Fever (If you have a fever during labor, get the antibiotics)
2. Premature birth (if baby is less than 36 weeks gestation, get the antibiotics)
3. If the amniotic sac has been ruptured for longer than 24 hours.

For my pregnancy, none of these factors were in place so I denied the antibiotics. My doctors were furious. They sent 3 people in to see me to try to convince me otherwise.

They started out with, "Do you even know what Group B Strep is?" I then proceeded to describe to them in great detail everythign I had learned (all while having contractions mind you!) and by the time I was finished spouting off facts and statistics they said, "Well, that was the best explanation of GBS I have heard since Medical School. You obviously are well informed so we won't ask you again. Will you please sign this waiver."

So I signed the waiver. Emily was fine. They tested her and she didn't have it. If I were to be pregnant again I would follow the same logic. If those three danger factors are present, I would deem the antibiotic use of greater benefit than harm. Otherwise, no antibiotics.

Hope this helps!

[boobybooby]

Hi Erin,
Since you said you researched group b strep thoroughly maybe you can answer a few questions for me. A friend of mine has been testing positive for it now for 1 year! She's not pregnant but wants a baby, and has suffered a miscarriage in the last year too. She's had symptoms of vaginal burning for a year and they only recently figured out that it is strep b! Poor dear. They tested her for everything in the world before trying that and now they tell her that "since she's had it for so long, they're having a hard time getting rid of it!" She's already done 3 or 4 rounds of very strong anti's, and still has it. Her Dr. wants to have her on antibiotics for the entire pregnancy, and in delivery (which they also said will probably be a c-section!)if she conceives. So, my question is, why do they prescribe anti's for the whole pregnancy? Is there a danger to the baby? They told her the miscarriage had nothing to do with the strep b so why the antibiotics during pregnancy? Is this some other kind of strep b, more toxic or something? Maybe you would know or have a place of info that I can direct her to! I've been trying to send her to my kinesiologist but she's not going for it. I'm so afraid that they are not helping her, but maybe hurting her in the long run with all these drugs. Thank you!

[GentleMoon]

I'm not Erin... ;) but I do know that it's very uncommon to have any symptoms of GBS. I also know from research that oral antibiotics will *not* do a thing for GBS. Neither will a C-section!! They *have* done studies on this, and babies who have been born via C-sec have the same GBS rates as those born vaginally.

IV ab's for mom during labor is the only thing medically proven to protect the baby.

I tested + in a pregnancy, and my research yielded the same results as Erin's. In addition, it is very important to point out that GBS should not be tested in the mom until 37 weeks. By nature, it comes and goes quickly. Any earlier testing then that wouldn't really tell you a thing about what would happen during delivery. Good luck finding a practitioner (doc or midwife) who is up to date on that fact though! I can't believe how early some still test... and prescribe those oral ab's that have been proven to do nothing to the GBS...

Personally, my choice was the same as Erin's. Also, I was tested at 33 weeks so I basically decided to "ignore" my results since it was so early. I opted not to retest. It was a homebirth. It's not something to take lightly at all, just something to do a lot of research on. I also prayed a lot about my decision, and I know it was the right one for my baby and I.

[DirtyHippie]

I read what you said about your friend. What her doctor is reccomending is ridiculous and pretty dangerous as well. GBS+ women are NOT supposed to have antibiotics during pregnancy for GBS as a matter of fact many care providers try to avoid them if they can for anything. It causes mom to build up a resistance to them and then if she wants antibiotics during labor (or has certain risk factors and has to have them) and they are basically useless. Also antiboitics does NOT change your status of being GBS+. A good diet, echinacea, and vitamin c can. I would reccomend she find a new doctor anf FAST! He also said she would probably need a c-section for being GBS+? Oh my, a c-section mom has JUST as a high rate of GBS onset as a vaginal birth.

[Erin Pavlina]

Yes, I would say antibiotics during pregnancy is ridiculous. A baby is not at risk until it is born.

They tested me at *8* weeks! Stupid people. So they kept trying to push antibs on me for months. I kept declining and they kept saying I was putting my baby at risk.

So I said, "If my baby is born at 16 weeks she's not going to live anyway!" They stopped buggin me. They're trying to cover their asses. I would decline antibiotics unless I presented with the three symptoms I mentioned.

[valeria_vi]

Erin,
do you mind sharing what you have learned and the speech you presented in th ehospital?

[boobybooby]

I read all of your thoughts, thank you so much. I just can't help feeling so useless to my friend, who really thinks that her Dr.'s are helping her. Yet, when I point out that she is still sick after 1 year plus, she doesn't make the connection that they do not know what they're doing and may not really be helping her at all!

She has literally been taking antibiotics for GBS for at least 6 months, injections and all! Because they can't get rid of it. And, because she does have symptoms, vaginal burning all the time. I wonder if the vag burning is something else? They're telling her it's the GBS and that she is just a rare case that HAS symptoms. But if I understood right what someone said here, there is no reason to try and get rid of her GBS? That just the ab's in labor are advised to protect the baby? I'm going to share the resistence theory with her for sure as well. She could really be putting her baby and self at risk if something goes wrong and she doesn't respond to ab's, especially with the flu season coming! Did I mention that she also has allergies and athsma really bad, so do her 2 sons. She is just such a great friend of mine but has a really hard time hearing anything I suggest to her! She's been to the infectious specialist who also claims that HE will be the one treating her for GBS during the pregnancy (if she conceives). I am sitting here getting so scared for her, and it hasn't even happened yet! Thank you everyone for the information, it's been immensly helpful, I'll pass it along to her.

[lunarmomma]

booby:
maybe your friend has a yeast infection??
that is common in pregnancy and the symptoms you describe might be that.
who knows, but doing a culture sure wouldn't hurt.

[Mommy22B]

My midwife doesn't test for Group B strep but she said I could get tested if I want to. I am going to an OB this Thursday for a get aquainted visit so I could gett the test then. But do I really want to? I don't really understand how thewhole thing works. Is it only a danger to baby if baby is early or if the waters break and labor isn';t immediate? If the baby came early I would go to the hospital anyway (before 37 weeks) and the same thing if my waters break without labor. So could they just do the test when i am admitted then? I was fine on this test when i was pregnant with dd so will I most likely be fine now too? Am I worrying too much?????? LOL Just don't want unecesary tests...
Beth

[Erin Pavlina]

Technically they CAN do the test while you're there but it takes so long to get the results that it may not do any good.

Group B Strep is really a danger under only three conditions:

1. If you go into labor and have or develop a fever.

2. If your water breaks and you don't deliver within I think 24 hours.

3. If you deliver before 37 weeks.

Under those three conditions I would consider having the antibiotics at birth.

Whether to get tested or not...hmmm... I think I would go ahead and get tested that way you'll have all the facts and can make an informed decision. But don't let them pressure you into anything.

I did a lot of research on the subject when I was pregnant and was positive for GBS. I declined antibiotics in labor and my baby was fine and healthy.

[valeria_vi]

Erin,
are you still reading this? I would really like to know. THANKS.

[LukesMum]

I tested negative for GBS when pregnant--but positive when ds was 1 1/2 years. At first they thought it was a yeast infection but I went back and they "rediagnosed " me with Strep B I was treated with antibiotics but am now wondering if that was pointless......could I still have GBS?? How can I clear up before baby #2. FYI My midwife was pretty adimate(sp?) that if I choose to test for GBS and it was positive I HAD to treat it with antiobiotics during labor .

[Erin Pavlina]

Yep I am still here and reading. I think there are several GBS threads and I forgot about this one.

My speech...hard to remember word for word. I don't want to give wrong information, but this is the gist.

"I know that 33% of women will test positive for Group B Strep and I know that there is only a 10-20% chance that my baby will be born as a carrier of GBS and OF THAT, only 1-2% will actually develop an infection which can then be treated with antibiotics. I know antibiotics are not good to give to a newborn, but I'd rather give them to her if she needs them than to me if I don't need them (since she will get them across the placenta anyway).

I also know that premature babies who DO contract a GBS infection have a 50% chance of dying from it, so if my baby were premature, which she is not, I would have taken antibiotics during labor.

If I develop a fever during my labor I will consider taking antibiotics, which I know are only effective in preventing a GBS infection IF they've been in MY system for at least 8 hours. If my water breaks and it appears I will deliver within 12 hours I won't be needing the antibiotics."

That's the gist.

I am very against using antibiotics to prevent a disease you don't have. How does that make sense? You can be a carrier of GBS and not have an infection. If I was actually infected with GBS I would consider taking antibiotics. Otherwise, no.

Also, it's important to note that a c-section will not prevent GBS complications. It's the exact same risks as I've identified above.

I hope that helps. :)

[Birth Junkie]

Just got done doing all the research I possibly could for GBS. There's a chance you can reduce or eliminate it. Check it out at http://www.thebirthsource.homestead.com/articles.html

[Birth Junkie]

check out http://www.thebirthsource.homestead.com/articles.html

[Allana]

I tested negitive for GBS when I was preg with my dd. She came down with GBS at 5 weeks and was admitted to the hopital for 2 weeks!:( So as you can see the test isn't that accurate. If you test positve when they do the test you may or may not be when you go into labor. I believe there is a test they can do when you go into labor, but I as of Sept it wasn't available yet. When I had my ds in Sept. my water broke, but I didn't start contractions. I know that after 12 hours of no contactions after your water breaks there is an increase of passing the GBS onto the baby. So I had to be given pitocin and the antibiotics during labor.

Also, I didn't have any of the things they tell you to look for when thinking about GBS, one of which is yeast infections while you are pregnant, I don't remember what the others were. If you want more details on what happened to us you can send me a pm or email.

[Allana]

Dirty Hippy,
I tested neg for GBS while preg with my first and she came down with GBS at 5 weeks. She was very sick and reqired 2 weeks hospitalization and IV antibiotics. Even though I know the chances of babies getting sick are very small I think I heard 1-2%, I opted to go for the anitbiotics during the labor of my 2nd. My midwife said it would be best especially since my first did get it. I just thought I would let you know my experience.

[Medium Geek]

My midwife and I were just discussing the issues around GBS at my appointment this week. She gave me a few interesting pieces of information:

1. Most women have GBS present in the vagina off and on, from time to time. It can come and go rather quickly, within weeks or even days. Hence, it really does no good to test until the last few weeks of pregnancy. Even then, if you test positive you could still end up being negative (NO presence of GBS in the vagina) during labor and delivery.

2. The GBS test is a culture (vaginal swab), but it takes 48 hours to come back from the lab. So you really can't test on your way into labor.

3. Our local university hospital, known for being conservative and highly interventionist, has taken more of a "wait and see" attitude with GBS. I don't know all the details, but they are at least asking questions like the 3 Erin listed, before they hook up the IV antibiotics.

4. There was a study published recently that showed the routine use of IV antibiotics during labor did reduce the number of GBS positive babies, but it also INCREASED the number of babies with infections due to E. coli. The mechanism for this is not clear, but it shows that routine use of antibiotics can have unanticipated side-effects. And since we know that at least some of those moms receiving IV ab's were actually GBS negative, their babies were exposed to the E. coli infection risk unneccesarily. :(

I haven't decided what to do yet in regards to GBS testing, but I really appreciate the information I've gathered here on the boards. I can always count on you women to be informed and asking all the right questions. Thanks for being here!

Take care,

Diane

[DirtyHippie]

Thank you all for your responses! I think I have decided not to do the antibiotics. I have found enough compelling information to sway me the other way. If I develop any of the signs or risk factors then I will recieve them.

[AutumnMoonfire]

There was a time, prior to testing that GBS killed babies, I agree with Erin that not everyone needs antibiotics in labor but I do want to say to the home birthing mamas that at the hospital I work in we do vital signs every 4 hours on babies of GBS+ moms. We are looking for increased resperations (60+ per minute)labored respirations, or babies who can't seem to stay warm no matter what we do. This is done regardless of Mom getting antibiotics "in time" as well as regardless of vag birth or c-sections. Another warning sign that would trigger closer attention would be low blood suger despite nursing well. I don't think home birth mamas check that, but cold babies can sometimes be "cured" by nursing. They are cold partly because they are hungry. I could go on and on, but if you are GBS+ select a pedi you can really talk to and who listens closely.

I may work at a hospital but I have no problem with home birth. I think it's cool in fact and would have done it if I could have found a midwife for my first. By the time dd#2 came along, I worked there and felt like I was home.
:D :D

[DirtyHippie]

With homebirth/birth center births they are instructed what to look for. No they do not make a common practice of checking blood sugar because it is invasive and unless they show signs they dont so it. A lot of it is trust in mom.

[megangaia]

What about garlic? My midwife suggested that to me when I tested positive. I don't know the details, but I've used garlic to kill yeast infections

[indigolilybear]

I tested positive w/ baby one. and my midwives gave me a homeopathic remedy that didn't work and then a homeopathic suppository treatment. This did work but some psychological work I did also during this time was to talk positively to my vagina. I know this may sound crazy but I theorized that the idea of having germs or sickness in my yoni was something that I could change w/the way I viewed myself/body and perphaps my body trying to tell me something....a way for healing.:)
my husband and I talked to my yoni each night telling it that it was beautiful, clean, healthy, etc. I consider myself to be a fairly body aware type person but was surprised at how healing this felt. I realized how many detrimental ideas were still held there and tried to release them and just love my body and yoni. <sigh> what a long path!!!
well, I"m sure this is kind of weird for some people but it might strike a cord w/ others. hope this helps:love

[valeria_vi]

indigolilybear,
could you please share which treatments did you use and also how did you make sure that the effect lasted up to your delivery?

[oddonein]

I personally would not use garlic to treat GBS. Garlic can increase bleeding which is defintely not something you want to do before giving birth.

[indigolilybear]

[
>indigolilybear,
could you please share which treatments did you use and also how did you make sure that the effect lasted up to your delivery? ]

I am not sure of teh name of teh treatments, they were given to my by my midwives.....if someone needs to know, you could call their business "birth babies and beyond" in Encinitas, CA. They may be able to help you.
they did repeat cultures and I had had one neg. back by the time I delivered my baby. Protocol calls for *2* neg. tests back before you don't have to use antibiotics.....my midwife took a leap of faith on it and went ahead anyway w/o them.

[erika]

just wanted to clarify something - gbs can cause 2nd trimester miscarriages and preterm labor. "GBS appeared to be the most significant pathogen in midgestation miscarriage, especially with intact membranes" (from “Intrauterine infection and spontaneous midgestation abortion: is the spectrum of microorganisms similar to that in preterm labor?” Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2000;8(5-6):220-7)

women with repeated 2nd trimester (not 1st) miscarriages are often treated -not continously- but intermittently with antibiotics throughout pregnancy and go on to have full-term pregnancies.

prophylactic antibiotics in labor are not associated with e. coli, but antibiotic exposure throughout pregnancy IS associated with e.coli.

gbs comes and goes and it is correct that the culture must be done around 37 weeks to be accurate - however, gbs earlier in pregnancy can be problematic as well.

i had 2 homebirths with iv antibiotics (the iv was removed immediately after). it was probably overkill, but since i never take antibiotics otherwise i didn't think a dose during labor would cause resistance. ironically, i probably would not have had antibiotics in a hospital because my only risk factor was a positive culture. however, since the baby was not being monitored for 24-48 hours after birth (yay!) by hospital staff, my midwife prefers to err on the side of caution.

it's a risk-benefit analysis that those with gbs have to make.

[sarahwebb]

Originally posted by Allana
I tested neg for GBS while preg with my first and she came down with GBS at 5 weeks. <snip> I opted to go for the anitbiotics during the labor of my 2nd...

Dear Allana and everyone,

I'm curious, how likely is it that your first daughter caught GBS from you? Are there other ways that an infant or child could contract this infection?

New and learning,
Sarah

[Allana]

From how it was explained to me is that she contracted it from me during delivery. I haven't heard about other ways to contract it. I had a very long pushing stage with her (four hours), so she was exposed for a while. I just assumed that could have played a part. I had no other symptoms they say to look for. The pediatrician that treated her said that for her to have gotten sick so late is very rare, but it does happen.

The midwife I had for my son's birth said that she wouldn't rupture my membranes and that she recomending the antibiotics. As it turns out my water broke, but I never started contractions and because of the GBS factor I had to go in after a few hours and start pit and antibiotics. I opted for the pitocin, so I wouldn't have to have so much of the antibiotics during labor. It actually wasn't as bad as I had feared. I couldn't tell the difference with pitocin induced contractions and the ones I had naturally with my daughter. I think that was due to the fact that my water had broken on its own, and I had started to dialate and my cervix was soft, so my body was ready, but needed a little help getting started. My labor nurse monitered the contractions very carefully so they didn't come on to fast and hard. She was really helpful. :) I was still able to achieve a natural birth with out pain medication.:flower The biggest pain was that they had to monitor the baby closely, so I wasn't able to be as mobile as I wanted. Anyway, this turned out to be a labor story. I do think that if I am ever to have another baby (we're pretty sure we are done!), I am going to look into more information, so I don't have to deal with antibiotics and IV's.

[mama milkshake]

I want to have a home water birth next time. I tested + for strep b last time. Is it dangerous to have a waterbirth at home if you are strep b positive at the time of labor and delivery?

[melissaworld]

For holistic preventative care see: http://www.birthlove.com/pages/gloria/strep_b.html
Excellent information! Don't know about GBS and water birth, but I've never heard of it being a big enough factor that stopped someone from having one. I would think that as long as you're using preventative care it wouldn't be a problem, but will look further into this matter. Hmm.. now I'm curious to know.
HTH!

[yaboobarb]

Hi all!
I was just wondering if anyone here has any experience with delivering at home with positive B strep results.

I am 37 weeks pregnant and I went to pick up my chart from my my doctor (who just dropped me as a back up doctor, but that is on another thread) and I was told that the test I just took this week came back positive for B strep.

Usually what they do is give IV antibiotics in the hospital during labor... but I am not going to the hospital.

I contacted my midwife (whom I trust ), and she told me that all was still well (in other words don't panic) she gave me some data about B strep, and she told me to contact the baby's Dr ( who will be there at the birth, or very soon after) and talk to him.


I will call my doctor, but I was wondering if anyone out there had experience with this, and I was hoping that you could share some stories about how it was delt with during or after your home birth.

Thank you all!
Barbara

[cheryl]

Hey Barbara,
I was gbs+ with my last baby, though I had waived the test and didn't know...thus necessitating a transport to the hospital from my homebirth plans when I developed a fever and baby's heartrate was elevated.
So...first....I think it's great that you found out your status on this...and that's from a pretty hardcore "test waiver signer".
Now, as for what course of action they take depends on where you live and what the laws allow. In Florida, midwives are allowed to used IV antibiotics at a homebirth for gbs, as long as they obtain a prescription ahead of time. (This I misunderstood, which is why I waived the test last time...stupid me!)
My backup OB has required that I use antibiotics for this homebirth, even though I have tested negative for gbs twice this pregnancy. I will be given a heplock, so I'm only hooked up to the iv as long as it takes to drip in each dose (about 20 minutes per).
They like to see 2 doses go in before baby arrives, and the doses I believe, though I could be wrong...(happens) are about 4 hours apart. So, unless you have a precipitous labor, you should be able to satisfy them on that one.
But again...it depends on what your midwife is legally allowed to do.

[Serenity]

Hi Barbara, I'm also in NJ and my homebirth midwife has said that she could do antibiotics through an IV at my home if I needed it. She is a CNM. I think you could ask about this possibility for you.

[candiland]

The midwife I use does two intramuscular injections of penicillin before the birth, while the woman is in labor. Also, in Europe, it's the norm for a woman to take a routine oral dose of antibiotics for a week or two leading up to the due date. The reason ob/gyns don't use it here is because "a woman can't be trusted to take all her prescribed medication." Ya know, to cover their as*es in case anything goes wrong.... that's why iv.s are used, because it is done where it can be documented in the woman's chart and it can be "professionally administered".:rolleyes:

[indigolilybear]

i had a homebirth w/baby one w/beta strep pos results. there is another thread here (or maybe at "i'm preg.") about this a while ago w/lots of good posts.
anyway, i did homeopathic remedy (didn't work for me) and homeopathic suppositories (that did work along w/my own personal intuitive work!!--may sound weird but it's what i believed the beta strep thing was truly about). you are supposed to have 2 neg. results back before you can deliver w/o antibiotics (you can also take them orally around due date time) but I had only had one neg. result back. however, my midwife said she felt i was fine. and we were!!
didn't test w/baby two. bottom line, as you midwife informed you, shouldn't be any big deal. and the odds are w/you!!
just get in touch w/your body. beta strep at best is a very controversial thing. most women actually are beta strep pos and on the aformentioned thread someone had a good link to some great info.
good luck and happy birthing!! you can do it.:thumb

[yaboobarb]

Thank you all!
It is great to hear such reassuring things! My midwife is telling me the same things.

Just to be safe, I meet with the Ped. on Friday, and if I hear anything different or interesting I will let you know!

The OB-DR (who was my parallel/backup care, but not anymore) made me feel like the ONLY place to be in the Hospital on IV antibiotics......... or else!

:mad:

I was hoping that your experiences would reassure me, and they did! (I also checked out the other thread on B strep... thanks!)
Barb

[temama]

You might want to check this article before make up your mind on antibiotics being used during your birth. I hope this helps.

[URL=http://www.mercola.com/2000/aug/13/group b strep.htm]

[sarahwebb]

I too have tested positive for GBS. My nurse practitioner prescribed 7 days of Amoxocilling and said if I didn't go into labor before restesting negative, I shouldn't worry about it. I started the Amoxocillin Monday and am about 37 weeks. The second culture results should come back Friday April 10. My EDD is April 21. (With further research, I'm not convinced that getting a negative culture result April 10 will insure that I am still negative at the time of delivery)

My midwife isn't concerned at all. She's recommended echinacaea extract 1 week on and 1 week off until I deliver as well as garlic supplement everyday to help boost my immune system. She also says that babies born at home are more likely to get the treatment they need, because they have 1 to 1 or greater attention and the mother, father or midwife will notice the symptoms and get the baby to treatment before the condition becomes serious. The only infant death she knew of from GBS in our area in the last two years was in a hospital nursery where the nurses weren't paying attention. She says that she will stay longer to help watch the baby since we know that I have had a positive culture.

My first cousin's doctor says that it's no big deal in full term babies. She says that she administers antibiotics during labor as a precaution for GBS positive women, but she doesn't think it's necessary because GBS is rarely life threatening for full term babies. Boy was Dh (who wasn't too hip on the whole homebirth thing to begin with) relieved to hear such reassurring information from a doctor...

My midwife recommended the following website. It's pretty deep and I'm still reading and digesting, but it has a wealth of information:
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/gbs.html

All the best,
Sarah

edited to spell my own name correctly...how's that for pregnancy brain?

[ramlita]

I'm a big fan of Midwifery Today's website. always lots of useful information!

http://midwiferytoday.com

[temama]

ramlah

also big on midwiferytoday! Got quite a bit of great info. infact that is where I got the link to the article I mentioned above. See you on the boards!

Carey

[bluevervain]

In our practice we recommend "the swab" as a way to prove status in case we go to the hospital (we're a homebirth practice). We let the women take the swab into the bathroom and get their own sample.

In my area, the doctors usually take a vaginal sample, drag the swab down the perineum and around the rectum...pretty much guaranteeing a positive result.

The CDC Guidelines keep changing in regards to GBS, for a while some of the Boston area hospitals adopted the "wait and watch" strategy, and if signs of infection showed in laboring mothers they'd administer antibiotics...of course these signs are often fever and elevated BP (how many women do you know who don't get elevated BP and/or sweaty in labor???)

Definitely check out the Midwifery Today site, they have fantastic information GBS. GBS infection in a newborn, while rare can be very dangerous.

Take care,
Christina

[MAMA-J]

Barbara

I was B Strep + with my first and had a very beautiful. healthy homebirth. The only thing I did was mega echinacea. 10 days on, 5 days off. I never made it to the off part because I went into labor a few days early.

ANYWAY...as said before..it's a very controversial thing.

Happy HOME birthing!

JAckie

[sarahwebb]

Hi Everyone,

Just to give you all an update, I took antibiotics--a form a penicillin for 7 days and my second culture came back negative. I'm also taking garlic everday and echinacea 7 days on and 7 days off.

My doctor gave me an article about the CDC changing it's recommendations from monitoring risk factors to testing everyone, and administering antibiotics during labor to all who test positive, but even that article cautioned that antibiotics during labor is a short term solution because of resistance.

I checked out the _Midwifery Today_ site for information on GBS and was concerned because there were what seemed to be obvious errors in the information there, most notably using GBS and Beta Strep interchangeably. Of course, there's always going to be conflicting information out there, but the _Midwifery Today_ article stated things that pretty much everything else I read had concensus on.

Peace,
Sarah

[valeria_vi]

Originally posted by bluevervain
In my area, the doctors usually take a vaginal sample, drag the swab down the perineum and around the rectum...pretty much guaranteeing a positive result.
Christina,
so how do you recommend a culture being done?

[mellie-bellie]

I am 35 weeks and have to make a decision about getting the Group B Strep test done or waivering it. My midwife is cool about me not getting it done, I just have to sign a waiver. With my ds' pregnancy, I used a different midwife, and she didn't give me much info on it, but I do recall signing a waiver against it. Anyways, what have all of you homebirthin' mamas done in regards to this test? I'm leaning towards not getting it done this time, but I wanted to hear some other's opinions first. TIA!

[SquirelNutkin]

AHHH, what a complicated issue.....
There are lots of info on the archives- in case you want to check.

My story-
I am 37 weeks and just switched midwives from those that practice in a hospital to one who does homebirths.
I stayed so long with the hospital birth because of cost (it would ahve been free!) and assumed I would just go to the hospital at the very very last minute- so I would ahve all the comfort of home.
Well, I tested positive for strep, so that birth plan was thrown out the water.
Actually, being positive for strep was very freeing- it made the descion of leaving a practice I felt was coarse and too medical very easy.
You see, in the hospital, the midwives would insist on giving me 2 IVS of antibotics before Iw as pushing.

My homebirht midwife is not required to test. She has dealt with it before.
She is fine with giving me a homebirth- as long as I am past 37 weeks (already there), have no fever during labor, and my water is not broken for longer than 24 hours. These factor raise the risk of the baby getting strep.
My midwife also feels that hopsital birthed babies get strep- or at risk for strep- more often because of interventions like fetal monitoring thru your vagina, and other items that enter thru the cervix- whihc is like little ladders for the bacteria.

Strep isvery very bad when the baby does get it- thought that is rare. I am planning on using a topical recipe to lower the amount of the bacteria in my vagina before I birth.

I would ask your midwife what she would do diff if you tested positive, and if she has worked with any patients that ahve strep.
In my case, I am glad that I know I ahve strep, because if a fever or the extended water broken occurs- we know to take it seriously.
You also may test negative this week, and positive next, so it isnt a fool proof test either.

It is a hard thing, one I think we wish we could all look into the future and see the obvious outcome- but we cant.

Good luck
b

[XmasEve]

I'm only 26 weeks, but already wondering what choice I'll make (to test or not). At first I thought I might as well since I heard it could be linked to UTIs, of which I've had many, but then I found that your GBS state could change in as little as 24 hours. Why do I want to resign myself to taking antibiotics in labor when it will probably (knock on wood) be weeks after I test? (Also, I just don't like anyone but my DH in that alleyway.) So I *think* at this point that I have decided not to test, and will instead only consider antibiotics in labor if I fall into any of the three risk categories; fever, early water breaking, or preterm labor. That's just what I'm planning-- this is my first so I have no prior experience.

SquirelNutkin, I've also heard about the alternative remedies to GBS. Can I ask what you're using? I'm a still new to the whole "alternative medicine" scene, but very excited by it all. It's a little overwhelming at first...

[tinyshoes]

Short answer: Don't get the test done

I've done lots of research because, dangit, I am GBS+. Once 'they' find out you are +, it's with you for life.

Even if you test again w/\ a subsquent pg, you still were + that one time.

Williams Obstetrics, THE OB textbook, says in their 20th edition from 1997:

Because of confustion, conflicting opinions, and lack of definitive data, there has been no universal approach to group B strep screening and treatment.

While I'm more into the lay midwife way of birthing, I feel that the pre-emminent OB text is THE place to go for the conservative, 'shield me from litigation and use any and all interventions available' opinion. And that's their stand on the topic.


(PS, I don't think IV antibiotics are harmless, I think they cause thrush in newborn babies' mouths)

[SquirelNutkin]

Strep has become a very hot topic in the last 5 years. Just this month, here in Texas they are mandating that mothers take 2 tests- one at 37 and one at 39. A big jump from what it was years ago.

There are a lot of recipes out there for keeping strep levels down, but-
Heres what my homebirth midwife reccomended-
Do this twice daily, with breakfast and dinner:
acidophilus- 4 billion cells per dose
echinacea- 350 mg capsules- 2 capsules
garlic- 580 mg capsules- 2 capsules
vitamin C- 500 mg with bioflavonoids
grapefruit seed extract- 15 drops

In addition to this, insert a capsule of goldenseal vaginally (near the cervix) every night before you go to bed. Avoid sugar and junk food and eat plenty of fresh produce-5 or more daily. Continue with your protein and whole grains.

good luck all- b

[lorijds]

Tiny shoes, I would like to point out that, actually, most standards of care regarding this is to routinely test, rather than treat by history.

We have had many moms who have tested positive with previous pregnancies and tested negative with subsequent pregnancies. Even most of the most conservative OB offices in the area test routinely and only treat positive or symptomatic rather than treating by history.

Of course, it should always be your choice to be tested or treated for anything, and I am not debating that point at all. I only wanted to point out that, even in the most conservative circles, it is not necessarily "once positive, always positive." There is plenty of research out there in conservative journals supporting treating only positive or symptomatic women, and unsupportive of blanket treatment for previously positive.

[~member~]

Hello mellie-bellie!
Just wanted to add my input LOL! I am 40 wks, refused the screening, and also refused antibiotics even if I show the 'symptoms'. I feel the antibiotics given during labor/delivery to be more harmful than the small chance my babe would get strep B.
Twelve years ago, my niece was born and got the strep B. They quarantined her and her mother, gave the baby antibiotics and allowed her to be breastfed. She is fine. So, even if my baby got it, I know that it is treatable.
I think the mandated testing of strep B is just another money making scheme, and really has nothing to do with the health and well-being of our babies.
I worry that if I let them test me and I am positive, then it gives them the ability to over ride my refusal of antibiotics KWIM? And just think of all the positive, good flora/fauna that is wiped out when you are given antibiotics, I think it would open the door for all sorts of nastier diseases for my baby.

JMO and good luck! :thumb

[bebeh20]

My baby broke her water two weeks early. As I had no pain, and actually thought I was incontinent at first, my midwife checked me that morn and just by chance did a swipe for GBS. Suffice to say, I was not the least bit concerned with her check, nor the outcome. I think I had way too much on my mind, like
"What! I have two more weeks!"

She told me that I would probably go into labor that day, and I did, late that afternoon. My 4 hour labor, and home waterbirth was a peaceful and phenomenal journey. Our Ava was gorgeous, and in perfect health.

The next day, Annette came back to our home and said that it was the strangest thing, that my swipe had come back positive (after the birth).

GBS is a normal bacteria that can get dangerously out of control, just like candida and so many others that we don't have a handle on yet. I believe that our floras are influenced greatly by our diet and hormones, and this explains the natural fluctuation of numbers.

Great advice, SquirrelNutkin! And thank you SO much for the recipe for combating a possible attack! In the late portion of my next pregnancy, I will definitely do this, with my awesome midwife's approval.

[indigolilybear]

also...there are many threads here re: this topic. try searching for it.

my two cents...dont do it...i tested positive and i worried for nothing. (had a successful HB anyway, treated w/alternative remedies like the homeopathic and also vaginal suppositories--though in my opinion, it is also or can be a "yoni" issue. i think it helps to resolve neg. feelings you have about your vagina before birthing. i believe this "cured" my beta strep...we got the second neg. culture back after birth)

didn't test w/baby two and i would never test again. but you must resolve this issue (obviously) for yourself. it's just a lot of women *do* test positive...and needlessly worry.
you know what is right for you and your baby.......good luck

[valeria_vi]

SquirelNutkin,
at what week should you start the regimen and for how long? until you deliver?

[clovergirl]

SquirelNutkin said:
There are lots of recipes for keeping strep levels down, but
here is what my homebirth midwife recommended-
Do this twice daily with breakfast and dinner:
acidolphilous- 4 billion cells per dose
echinecea- 350mg capsules- 2 capsules
garlic- 580mg capsules- 2 capsules
vitamin C- 500mg with bioflavinoids
grapefruit seed extract- 15 drops
(bold added by me)

FYI- garlic taken internally can thin the blood and lower blood pressure. it should be used with *extreme* caution towards the end of a pregnancy because it can lead to unnecessary hemoraging after the birth.

[SquirelNutkin]

I didnt know that about the garlic.
It was reccommended by several midwives- both my own and online.
Another option is a product called Natribiotic- which is a combination of most of what I listed earlier, but without the garlic.

Goldenseal- I am not sure how long, etc. There is a thread on mothering, if you search under homebirth and gbs- you find a whole thread about goldenseal. The woman who started the topic suggested using a goldenseal and cocaoa butter suppoistory mixture once a night for 3 nights, then wait 2 nights, and start again if you havent had the baby. I think the implication is to start as late as possible so that your vaginal flora/fauna is balanced.
I would also mix the goldenseal with cocoa butter for an easier time of it. With just capsoles- I felt like I had ants in my pants. She mixed 6 capsules to 3 tbls cocoa butter and froze into 8 drops.
I want to also caution that it is only a goldenseal suppository. ABSOLUtely do not take internally- as that is conindicative for alls tages of pregnancy.

Another recipe I found online here at motheirng- A few tablespoons each of yarrow root, rosemary, thyme, and candelua, 1./2 cup sea salt and a quart of water used as a bath or a douch. I have found this remedy easier and less messy, and unpleasant.

Anyhow, I second the advice of not testing. The risk is pretty low of passing it, unless you have had some of the mentioned complications- which would be signs of concern on their own anyhow.
I certainly wasnt tested with my first child- as it wasnt policy yet, and who know if I would be positive or not. But I certainly didnt feel as worried or concerned as I do this round.

Anyhow, good luck to all,
b